USCIS Proposes Higher Citizenship Fees: What Applicants Should Know About the 2026 Naturalization Fee Increase

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published a proposed rule that would significantly raise the fees USCIS charges for naturalization filings. Published on June 23, 2026, this is a proposal only — it is not final, and current fees remain in effect until a final rule with an official effective date is announced. This article explains what is being proposed, who would be affected, the comment-period timeline, and practical steps you can take now, all in plain terms and without taking a political position.

What the proposed rule would change

The proposal focuses on the fees tied to becoming a U.S. citizen and to appealing a naturalization decision. The most notable changes involve two forms: the Form N-400 (Application for Naturalization) and the Form N-336 (Request for a Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings).

Here is a before-and-after look at the proposed fees:

• Form N-400, online filing: $710 today, proposed to rise to $1,280.
• Form N-400, paper filing: $760 today, proposed to rise to $1,330.
• Form N-336, online filing: $780 today, proposed to rise to $1,425.
• Form N-336, paper filing: $830 today, proposed to rise to $1,475.

Across both forms, the proposed increases work out to roughly a 75 to 80 percent jump. The proposal would also make two changes to fee relief:

• End the reduced-fee option: The current $380 reduced fee for lower-income N-400 applicants would be eliminated.
• End fee-waiver eligibility: Fee waivers for the N-400 and N-336 would no longer be available.

One important exception: current and former members of the U.S. armed forces would remain exempt from naturalization fees under the military statutes, as they are today.

Who would be affected

If the rule is finalized as written, the impact would fall unevenly across applicants:

• Lawful permanent residents applying to naturalize: Anyone filing a Form N-400 would pay the higher amount rather than the current fee.
• Lower-income applicants: Those who rely on the $380 reduced fee or a full fee waiver would feel the change most, since both options would go away.
• Applicants appealing a decision: People filing a Form N-336 to request a hearing on a naturalization denial would face a substantially higher cost.
• Military applicants: Current and former service members would continue to be exempt from naturalization fees under existing law.

Because these are the exact forms most citizenship applicants use, the proposal has drawn broad attention. Still, it is worth repeating: nothing has changed yet, and the current fee amounts continue to apply.

The comment period and timeline

Proposed rules like this one go through a public comment process before they can become final. For this rule:

• Comment period opened: June 22, 2026.
• Comment period length: 60 days.
• Written comments are due: by August 24, 2026.
• Current fees remain in effect: the online $710 / paper $760 N-400 fees (and current N-336 fees) stay in place until a final rule and effective date are published.

Members of the public can submit written comments during this window. You can read the full proposal and find instructions for commenting on the official Federal Register notice. After the comment period closes, the agency reviews the input received before deciding whether and how to finalize the rule. There is no guarantee the final fees will match the proposed amounts, and no effective date applies until a final rule says so.

Practical steps applicants might consider now

While the outcome is uncertain, there are reasonable, low-risk steps you can take today:

• Confirm your eligibility: Review the requirements for naturalization on the official USCIS page for the Form N-400 before you file.
• Check the current fee schedule: USCIS publishes an official fee schedule you can consult at any time on its G-1055 fee schedule page.
• Gather supporting documents early: Naturalization and related filings often require certified vital records as evidence, such as a certified birth certificate or marriage certificate for identity, name, or relationship proof.
• Consider your timing: If you are eligible and ready, you may wish to weigh the current fees against the possibility of higher fees later. This is a personal decision, not legal advice.
• Talk to a qualified professional: For questions about your specific situation, consult a licensed immigration attorney or an accredited representative.

Government processes versus help obtaining your records

It is important to understand the difference between the government process and the supporting documents you may need for it. USCIS is the government agency that receives, reviews, and decides naturalization applications and sets the fees discussed here. Vital Records Online is not a government agency, and it is not a law firm or immigration service.

What Vital Records Online can do is help you obtain certified copies of vital records — such as a certified birth certificate or a marriage certificate — that a citizenship application often requires as supporting evidence. Vital Records Online does not issue those records, does not process immigration filings, and does not provide legal or immigration advice. The issuing vital records office produces the certified document, and USCIS handles the immigration application itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the higher citizenship fees in effect now?

No. This is a proposed rule published on June 23, 2026, and it is not final. The current fees — $710 for online N-400 filing and $760 for paper — remain in effect until a final rule with an official effective date is published.

How much would the Form N-400 fee increase under the proposal?

The proposal would raise online N-400 filing from $710 to $1,280 and paper filing from $760 to $1,330 — roughly a 75 to 80 percent increase. These figures are proposed and could change before any final rule.

Would fee waivers still be available?

Under the proposal, the $380 reduced-fee option and fee-waiver eligibility for the N-400 and N-336 would be eliminated. Current and former members of the U.S. armed forces would remain exempt from naturalization fees under the military statutes.

How can I submit a comment on the proposed rule?

The 60-day public comment period opened June 22, 2026, and written comments are due by August 24, 2026. You can read the proposal and find commenting instructions on the official Federal Register notice linked above.

Related Guides

• Replace a naturalization certificate (Form N-565) — how to request a replacement when yours is lost or damaged.
• Claiming dual citizenship through parents or grandparents — the records that ancestry-based claims often require.
• Single status affidavit to marry abroad — proving you are free to marry in another country.
• Order a birth certificate — start a request for a certified copy of your record.

Ready to gather the records your citizenship application may require? Start your certified birth certificate request with Vital Records Online today.